The Rape Prevention Program for Men, Hobart College, Geneva, NY

The Rape Prevention Program for Men, Hobart College, Geneva, NY
Contact Name: Rocco “Chip” Capraro
Phone Number: (315) 781-3300
E-mail: capraro@hws.edu
Key Words: (1) Male only; (2) college age; (3) primarily white population; (4) university setting; (5) one-time workshop; (6) 1½- to 2-hour workshop
Population served
All incoming male students participate in the Rape Prevention Program for Men at Hobart College. There is an average of 30 to 45 participants per month.
Medium used to convey message
This program is a 2-hour interactive workshop that uses scenarios written by college students to discuss sexual violence via peer-led discussion that occurs in residence halls. The major topics of the workshop are masculinity and what it means to be a man in society. Students deconstruct these ideas to gain a better understanding of how society and culture shape ideas about masculinity. Participants take part in the workshop and follow-up activities, which include a Take Back the Night men’s vigil and the White Ribbon Campaign.
Goals, objectives, and desired outcomes
The goal of this program is to reinforce the idea that most men do not support sexually violent behavior.
Theoretical/ scientific basis for the approach
This program uses information from Alan Berkowitz’s social norms approach, which aims to correct misperceptions regarding men and sexual behavior. The project director attributes the success of the program to the participants themselves. Dr. Capraro felt that the program would not be successful if most men did not have relatively positive views about women and relationships.
Level of evaluation
An evaluation of the program was completed for a dissertation project and mainly consisted of an assessment of pre- and post-test changes in attitudes and values associated with perpetration of rape (Earle, 1996) and also a book chapter about the program in Men and Rape: Theory, Research, and Prevention Programs in Higher Education (Berkowitz, 1994).
Staff capacity
The program is delivered by 10 students, who are sophomores, juniors, and seniors. These students have been trained as peer facilitators by Dr. Capraro and work in teams of two with professional staff observing. Dr. Capraro’s job description includes work with this program; thus, the program does not require outside funding. Some work-study students also assist with the program.